Run if you see this fish; doomsday may be coming
What's the story
The extremely rare oarfish, which, when seen by humans, is considered a bad omen and is often associated with impending catastrophes, was discovered off the coast of California last weekend.
The 12-foot oarfish, also known as the "harbinger of doom," was found dead, floating in the waters of San Diego's La Jolla Cove.
Two days after the oarfish was spotted, a 4.6-magnitude earthquake shook Los Angeles.
Rare occurrence
Oarfish sightings are extremely rare
Oarfish, which are deep-sea dwellers, seldom come into contact with humans. Their bodies rarely wash up in shallow waters, making this recent discovery highly unusual.
According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, only 20 oarfish have been found in California since 1901.
The institute is currently conducting a necropsy to determine the cause of death of the juvenile oarfish.
Description
Oarfish: A unique and eerie deep-sea creature
Oarfish are described by the Ocean Conservatory as "strikingly large, odd-looking fish" with long, ribbon-shaped bodies that can grow up to 30 feet in length.
They have large eyes and distinctive red spines that form a crown-like cluster.
The more intriguing aspect of the fish, however, is the legends associated with it.
According to multiple news sources, 20 oarfish washed ashore prior to Japan's 2011 earthquake, which was one of the most catastrophic in history.
Other omens
Oarfish sighting adds to string of recent bad omens
Although not catastrophic enough, there were numerous reports of monuments collapsing around the time the doomsday fish was spotted in California.
Last week, a 190 million-year-old geological structure in Utah, known as the Double Arch, collapsed without warning.
Two weeks prior, a 1,100-year-old pyramid in Mexico was damaged due to heavy rainfall.
The descendants of the Purépecha peoples, who built the pyramid, warned that it was a "bad omen" of approaching disaster.